NWS La Crosse WITO.W 0012April 17, 2026
Tornado Warning: Mitchell and Mower, IA and MN
The National Weather Service office in La Crosse issued a tornado warning for Mitchell and Mower in Iowa, Minnesota, which was in force until 2:45 p.m. local time on April 17. It was the 12th tornado warning the NWS office in La Crosse issued in 2026. Iowa had 78 tornado warnings in April 2026, against 12 in an average April of 2008-2025 (Iowa's tornado warnings by year).
ExpiredWarning
In force for 40 minutes; it has expired. The agency may have replaced it with a new notice.
The notice
- Issued by
- National Weather Service, La Crosse WI
- Area
- Mitchell and Mower
- State
- Iowa
- Level
- Warning
- Issued
- 2:05 p.m. CDT, April 17, 2026
- Expires
- 2:45 p.m. CDT, April 17, 2026
- CAP severity, certainty, urgency
- Extreme, Observed, Immediate
- VTEC event
- KARX TO.W 0012
- Official source
- National Weather Service: the notice at its source
Tornado Warnings in Iowa since 2008Every warning type in Iowa
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. AreaZine rebuilds this page from the agency's record; the agency's page is the one to act on. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.
The notice as issued
TORARX The National Weather Service in La Crosse has issued a * Tornado Warning for... Northern Mitchell County in north central Iowa... Southeastern Mower County in southeastern Minnesota... * Until 245 PM CDT. * At 205 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near St. Ansgar, or 8 miles north of Osage, moving east at 30 mph. HAZARD...Tornado and ping pong ball size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation. IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely. * This dangerous storm will be near... Stacyville around 210 PM CDT. Other locations impacted by this tornadic thunderstorm include County Roads T 54 And A 31, McIntire, Meyer, Highway 218 And County T 40, Little Cedar, and Bailey.
What the agency told people to do
TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.
Source: National Weather Service: the notice at its source. The text is the agency's, unedited. A U.S. Government work, in the public domain.